Southern California, Vegas & the Grand CanyonEscorted Tour, USA

Tinseltown’s old-world glamour and the flashing neon lights of Las Vegas will give way to the spectacular Grand Canyon and Palm Springs, a desert playground and former home to the big stars.  

Experience the best of the west with a journey through Hollywood, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and the palm-fringed desert playground of Palm Springs. Begin in Orange County’s Buena Park, with its assortment of restaurants, parks, and outlets. Stroll along Santa Monica’s iconic pier and lively boardwalks and admire the charming Art Deco architecture. Dive into the heart of Hollywood, exploring the Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre, before driving through the Mojave Desert with its sweeping views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Arrive in Las Vegas to witness its dazzling nightlife, perhaps from the sky with an optional helicopter flight. Spend a day at leisure on the famous Las Vegas Strip, enjoying world-class casinos and entertainment, and consider watching the award-winning tribute show, ‘The Rat Pack is Back’.

Continue your travels past Hoover Dam, stopping in the charming town of Seligman, with its original Route 66 classic diners and vintage feel before reaching Flagstaff, near the San Francisco Peaks. Marvel at the world-famous Grand Canyon, with the option to take in its splendour from above on a helicopter ride. Unwind by the swimming pool in the desert oasis of Palm Springs at a stylish resort and opt to ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for breath-taking views of Mt. San Jacinto Canyon. Lastly, embrace the laid-back charm of San Diego, seeking out its beaches, parks, and galleries during a final optional excursion.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Discover Santa Monica with its famous pier, lively boardwalks, and Art Deco architecture

Journey through the Mojave Desert overlooked by the Sierra Nevada mountains

Enjoy a day at leisure in Las Vegas, exploring ‘The Strip’, packed with famous casinos and world-class entertainment

Drive past the immense Hoover Dam, and call at the charming rest stop of Seligman on old Route 66

Journey to the breath-taking Grand Canyon, one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders

Relax and recharge with free time in the desert oasis of Palm Springs and opt to travel on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Tour the film hub of Hollywood and see the Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre

Optional helicopter rides above the spectacular Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas by night

Explore laid-back coastal San Diego and its beaches, parks, and historic landmarks on an included tour

Spend two nights in Flagstaff located near the base of the San Francisco Peaks

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Nine nights' room-only accommodation in a series of good-quality hotels in Buena Park (2 nights), Las Vegas (2), Flagstaff (2), and Palm Springs (3), plus one night on the aircraft

Return flights to Los Angeles

Full-day visit to Santa Monica and Hollywood

Full-day excursion to the Grand Canyon

Full-day trip to San Diego

Stop at the town of Seligman

Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers

Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

ITINERARY

Day One – Fly to Los Angeles

Arrive in Bilbao, where our coach will transfer to your first Parador - the 20th-century palace of Limpias, in its riverside, parkland setting. Settle in to your splendid surroundings, perhaps taking a stroll along the river to enjoy the views or making use of the Parador's amenities, which include a seasonal outdoor swimming pool. Dinner will be served in the Parador's dining room, this evening.

Day Two - Included Santa Monica and Hollywood

Today, your first included tour takes you to the regional capital, Santander. Stop off at the Cabo Mayor Lighthouse Viewpoint before heading to the fishing port or watch the ebb and flow of daily life in this elegant and sophisticated city-resort from a seat in a pavement café or tapas bar.

You’ll also make the short journey to nearby Santillana del Mar, a picture-postcard-perfect medieval village. After a wonderful day, return to Limpias for a second evening, choosing perhaps to dine in the hotel or in the village.

Day Three – Drive through the Mojave Desert to Las Vegas and optional night helicopter flight

Re-board the coach, today, and journey along the stunning Asturian coast, where views of the Bay of Biscay shoreline compete with those of the towering Picos de Europa mountains. Break up your scenic journey with visits to beautiful coastal Gijón, and to the nearby Asturian capital, Oviedo.

Late this afternoon, you'll reach the heart of green Galicia and your second Parador. Partly housed in a restored 15th-century tower, and an ideal base for discovering Galicia’s cities and stunning coast, the Parador de Vilalba is built on the site of a former castle, in a quiet village on the route of the Camino de Santiago. Enjoy dinner this evening, and perhaps take a stroll through the old town.

Day Four – Day at leisure in Las Vegas and optional evening 'The Rat Pack is Back' dinner and show

Today you'll travel the short distance into ancient Santiago de Compostela, the destination at the end of the Camino, and one of Spain’s most beautiful cities. A marvellously preserved Romanesque cathedral lies at the city’s heart, perhaps the earliest-ever tourist destination for those who, in medieval times, first followed the route to Santiago.

After a marvellous day, you'll return to Vilalba for the evening.

Day Five – Drive past Hoover Dam, with a stop in Seligman on Route 66, to Flagstaff

On this delightfully contrasting day, you'll head to beautiful, rugged Galicia. Dotted with hidden coves and fjord-like rias reminiscent of Devon or Ireland, complete with tiny beaches and sleepy fishing ports, the Galician coast is a delight, epitomised by the historic port of A Coruña, or La Coruna as it's sometimes known.

Set on a peninsula fringed on one side by glorious Atlantic beaches, and on the other by a sheltered bay and deep water harbour, A Coruña is a wonderful place to wander and enjoy delicious Galician tapas and seafood, perhaps washed down with a glass of chilled white wine.

Day Six – Included full-day excursion to the Grand Canyon South Rim and an optional helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon

Bidding farewell to Vilalba, today you'll re-board the coach and head back along the route of the Camino into the sun-baked province of Castilla y León. Highlights today will include visits to Galician Lugo, still enclosed by its intact Roman wall, and to the historic university city of León. See León's majestic cathedral and fine old town, and perhaps take lunch in one of its many tapas bars and cafés.

This afternoon, you’ll continue on to your final parador. Housed in one of Spain's most popular pilgrimage spots, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, this grand Parador offers accommodation fit for a king and a relaxed atmosphere within its 900-year-old walls. Sharing a plaza with one of the major stops along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, the Parador benefits from the grand backdrop of the city's 12th-century Cathedral de Santo Domingo de la Calzada. With an in-house restaurant offering rustic Spanish classics, as well as a lively collection of bars and restaurants outside its walls, the Parador makes excellent use of Rioja's wine country with a wide variety of local wines and fresh produce. Dinner will be served on both nights.

Day Seven - Drive through the Sonoran Desert to Palm Springs

Today you're free to enjoy the delights of Lerma, but you may wish to join our optional excursion and explore one of Spain’s most enthralling cities. For centuries Burgos was the capital of Old Castille, and it was also once home (nearly a thousand years ago now) to the legendary warrior leader El Cid. This beguiling place has no shortage of tapas bars and restaurants in which to enjoy lunch, as you'll discover after your tour.

Day Eight - Day at leisure in Palm Springs and option Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Bid farewell to your hosts, and transfer back to Bilbao airport to catch your flight home, at the end of a fascinating week in Northern Spain.

Day Nine - Included full-day visit to San Diego

Bidding farewell to Cusco, today you'll head to the airport to board the flight into the high Andes and to the extraordinary Ecuadorian city of Quito.

Stunningly set just 22 kilometres south of the equator, over 9,300 feet above sea level and beneath the volcanic slopes of towering Pinchincha, Quito is a Spanish colonial treasure trove nestled around its UNESCO-listed historic centre.

Upon arrival, you will be met by your local tour manager and be transferred to the hotel for some time at leisure before a welcome brief this evening.

Day Ten - Return to Los Angeles for flight back to the UK

This morning, pay a visit to the ‘Middle of the World’, where the equator is marked with a monument and visitor centre, before continuing to the highland town of Otavalo, the most famous of all South America’s colourful, indigenous markets. Enjoy lunch in Pijal, a small village in the heart of the Andes, where you'll visit the sustainable 'Sacha Warmi Kuna Project'. You'll then return to Quito.

Day Eleven - Arrive home

Bid farewell to Quito and fly to the remote, volcanic Pacific Galápagos archipelago, arriving at the island of Baltra and then transferring to Santa Cruz by boat, home of the giant tortoise for which the Galápagos are famed for.

Enjoy lunch at a local ranch before the chance to go in search of the famous giant tortoise on a gentle guided walk around the island’s volcanic interior. Afterwards, transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Southern California, Vegas & the Grand Canyon is located in Escorted Tour, USA. Accommodation rating is the operators own rating and may not be the official rating. Hotel details correct at 02/07/2025